Headlamp reflector for automobiles



Jan. 14, 1969 P. HEDGEWICK 3,422,260

HEADLAMP REFLECTOR FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed May 6, 1966 Sheet 1 of 4 Flat v 11v VENTOR.

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HEADLAMP REFLECTOR FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed May 6, 1966 I Sheet 2 of 4 FIG. IO

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ATTORNEYS' United States Patent Office 3,422,260 Patented Jan. 14, 1969 HEADLAMP REFLECTOR FOR AUTOMOIBILES Peter Hedgewick, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, assignor to Reflex Corporation of America, Troy, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed May 6, 1966, Ser. No. 548,158

U.S. Cl. 240--41.55 15 Claims Int. Cl. F21v 31/02; F21v 17/00 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A reflector for use with the headlamp of an automobile. The reflector comprises a continuous ring of transparent material having an outer surface and an inner surface formed with a plurality of reflecting prisms and a second ring hermetically sealed to the first ring. The reflector further includes a general circumferential wall fixed to and extending generally axially from the second ring and having radial tabs thereon for mounting the ring on a vehicle.

This invention relates to reflectors for automobiles and particularly to reflectors positioned adjacent the headlamp of an automobile.

In the copending application, Ser. No. 473,761, filed July 21, 1965, now Patent No. 3,382,354, titled Reflector for Automobiles, of Peter Hedgewick and Wallace A. Stanley, there is disclosed and claimed a reflector construction wherein a reflector ring comprising a first wall of light-transmitting material having a smooth outer surface and a plurality of light-reflecting prisms on the inner surface is hermetically sealed in spaced relation to a second wall and the entire ring is then mounted around the periphery of the headlamp.

It is an object of this invention to provide a reflector ring of this construction which also serves to hold the headlamp in position on the automobile; which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction; and which obviates the need for a separate retaining ring.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is afragmentary front elevational view of an automobile embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the reflector ring shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of a modified form of ring.

FIG. 5 is a.- rear view of a portion of the ring as shown in FIGS. l-3.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 2 of a further modified form of reflector ring.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary exploded view of the reflector ring shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGS. 2 and 6 of a further modified form of reflector ring.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary exploded view of the reflector ring shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGS. 2, 6, and 8 of a further modified form of reflecting ring.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the ring shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary front elevational view of an automobile embodying a further modified form of the ring.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of the ring shown in FIG. 12.

'FIG. 14 is a fragmentary perspective view of the headlamp shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary front elevational view of an automobile having a further modified form of reflector ring thereon.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the line 1616 in FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 1717 in FIG. 15.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a retaining clip utilized in the construction in FIGS. 15-17.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary perspective view of the ring shown in FIGS. 15-17.

Referring to FIG. 1, reflector 20 embodying the invention is adapted to be mounted on an automobile which has a conventional sealed beam headlamp 21 surrounded by a shroud or bevel 22. Reflector ring 20 includes an outer wall 23 that has a smooth outer surface 24 and is made of light-transmitting material, such as acrylic plastic, and an inner surface formed with a plurality of lightreflecting prisms 25 throughout its entire periphery (FIG. 5). Each of the prisms 25 is preferably cubic in accordance with the type of prisms shown in the patents to Stimpson 1,591,572 and 1,906,655 such that light entering through the surface 24 is reflected by the three surfaces of each cubic prism back outwardly in a parallel direction. Such prisms, when viewed directly, have hexagonal side edges at the terminus of reflecting surfaces as viewed in FIG. 5.

As specifically discussed in the aforementioned applica tion, Ser. No. 473,761, in order to obtain the maximum number of complete prisms and thereby obtain maximum reflection, the prisms are provided in groups having a limited arcuate extent. The prisms are arranged in rows with the axes of the circumferentially adjacent prisms in each group lying in straight lines and two of the side edges of the prisms in each row being parallel to a radius of the reflector ring. The circumferential extremities of each group are beveled along radial lines.

It has been found by this arrangement the maximum number of complete prisms is provided along the circumference of the reflector. The axes of the cubic prisms are preferably perpendicular to the surface 24.

The reflector ring 20 also includes an inner wall 26 that is joined to the outer wall 23 by radially spaced walls 27, 28. The walls 27, 28 are preferably molded integrally with the outer wall 23 and have their ends hermetically sealed to the inner wall 26 by spin-welding or by adhesive tzo form a hermetically sealed space between the walls As shown in FIG. 2, the inner wall 26 includes an integral annular heard 29 that is adapted to engage a peripheral flange 30 on the sealed beam headlamp 21 to retain the headlamp in position on the automobile. An integral wall 31 is molded in a single piece with the outer wall 26 and extends axially around the headlamp. Integral radially extending and circumferentially spaced flanges 32 are provided along the free edge of the axial wall 31 and have elongated openings 33 therein through which screws 34 extend. The screws are threaded into a housing 35 to hold the ring and in turn the headlamp in position on the vehicle. Springs 36 are interposed between the housing 35 and the flanges 32.

The inner wall 26, axial wall 31 and radial tabs 32 are preferably molded in a single piece from a suitable plastic such as acrylonitrile-butadiene styrene.

In the modified form of the invention shown in FIG. 4, a reinforcing plate of metal, designated 37, is provided with an opening 38 and tabs 39 whereby it is embedded during molding in the flanges 32 to reinforce the area surrounding the opening 33. The head of each screw 34 thus bears against the metal to distribute the force on the flange 32'.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the reflector ring 40 is made of several parts. The axially extending wall 41 is made of metal and includes integral metal flanges 42 for mounting it on the housing 35. Axially extending metal fingers 43 are welded to the wall 41 and have their ends turned radially inwardly as at 44 and embedded in the inner wall 26 of the ring during molding, of wall 26. As in the previous form of the invention, an annular bead 29' engages the periphery of the peripheral flange 30 of the headlight 21 to retain the headlight in position.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, metal fingers 45 are detachably connected to the reflector ring 46. Each finger 45 extends along a stepped axial groove 47 and its free end 48 extends into a slot 49 formed in an annular peripheral extension 50 on the second wall 26. The finger 45 is welded to an axially extending metal wall 51 which has radially extending flanges 52. The axially extending wall 51 also includes an annular inwardly turned portion 53 that engages the outer surface of the wall 26 and has the free edge 54 thereof engaging the flange 30 of the sealed beam headlamp 21 to hold the headlamp in position.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 10, each metal finger 55 has a radially extending end 56 and is molded in the wall 26 and welded to axial wall 51, the latter being identical in construction to that shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

Any of the forms of the invention shown and described in this application can be made generally rectangular in shape as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 at 60- to conform to the outer periphery of a generally rectangular headlamp 61 (FIG. 14). In such a shape, the reflect-or ring comprising the outer and inner walls has generally straight but slightly curved sides 62, 63 connected by sharply curved radius portions 64.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 15-19, the headlamp is mounted on a bowl-shaped housing 65 which in turn is adjustably mounted on a fixed portion 66 of the car. The reflector ring 67 comprising the inner and outer walls as in the previous forms of the reflector ring includes an axially extending integral annular wall 68 that is molded in one piece with the second wall 26 and has elongated opening 69 at one point along wall 68 and an opposite circular opening 70 along an opposite wall. The ring 67 engages the flange of the headlamp and holds the headlamp in position the bowl 65. A coil spring 71 has one end connected to a fixed portion 61 of the automobile and the other end 72 thereon looped through opening 70. A retaining clip 73 has one end 74 thereof hooked through the opening 69 and a loop portion 75 thereof extending through an opening 76 in the bowl and held therein by a struck out tab 77 and a retaining end 78 on clip 73. The clip does not form any part of the present invention and has been used in connection with prior art separate retaining rings for headlights.

As shown in FIG. 17, the relationship of the bowl 65 to the fixed housing 66 is controlled by a bolt 80 journalled in a flange 81 and threaded into a nut 82 on the housing 66.

I claim:

1. For use with a headlamp of an automobile, the combination comprising:

a substantially continuous ring of transparent material,

said ring having an outer surface, and an inner surface formed with a plurality of reflecting prisms such that light passing through the outer surface is reflected by the prisms on the inner surface back out through the outer surface,

a second ring,

means for joining said first and second ring to provide a hermetically sealed unit with said second ring in spaced adjacent relation to said first ring,

and a generally circumferential wall fixed to and extending generally axially from said second ring, said wall 4 having means thereon for mounting said ring on a vehicle with said ring in engagement with a portion of a headlight for holding the headlight in position on the automobile.

2. The com-bination set forth in claim 1 wherein said axially extending wall comprises an integral portion of the second wall of said ring.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said first Wall, second wall and axially extending wall are made of plastic.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for mounting said ring on the vehicle comprises a plurality of radially extending integral flanges on said axial wall.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 including an axially extending opening in said flanges, and a reinforcing member embedded in each said flange.

6. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for mounting said ring on said vehicle comprising a plurality of openings in the axial wall into which retaining means on the vehicle are adapted to expand.

7. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said axial wall comprises an annular metal member, and a plurality of axially extending retaining members having one end thereof embedded in said second wall and the other end thereof fixedly secured to said annular member.

8. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said axially extending wall comprises an annular sheet metal wall, said wall having the peripheral edge thereof adapted to engage said headlight and positioned adjacent said second wall of said ring, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers, said fingers being fixedly secured to the periphery of said metal wall, said second wall having an integral axially extending portion with openings therein into which the ends of said retaining fingers extend.

9. For use with a headlamp of an automobile, the combination comprising:

a substantially continuous ring of transparent material,

said ring having an outer surface, and an inner surface formed with a plurality of reflecting prisms such that light passing through the outer surface is reflected by the prisms on the inner surface back out through the outer surface,

a second ring of material,

means for joining said first and second ring to provide a hermetically sealed unit with said second ring in spaced adjacent relation to said first ring, and a circumferential wall fixed to and extending axially from said second ring, said wall having means thereon for mounting said ring on a vehicle with said ring in engagement with a portion of a headlight for holding the headlight in position on the automobile,

said ring comprising a generally rectangular configuration including generally straight sides connected with sharply curved radial portions whereby said ring can be used to retain headlights having a generally rectangular configuration.

10. For use with a headlamp of an automobile, the combination comprising:

a substantially continuous ring of transparent plastic material,

said ring having an outer surface, and an inner surface formed with a plurality of cubic reflecting prisms such that light passing through the outer surface is reflected by the prisms on the inner surface back out through the outer surface,

a second ring of plastic material,

means for joining said first and second ring to provide a hermetically sealed unit with said second ring in spaced adjacent relation to said first ring, and

an integral circumferential axial wall extending from said second ring, said wall having means thereon for mounting said ring on a vehicle with said ring in engagement with a portion of a headlight for holding the headlight in position on the automobile.

11. The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein said means for mounting said ring on the vehicle comprises a plurality of radially outwardly extending integral flanges on said axial wall having openings therethrough.

12. The combination set forth in claim 11 including an axially extending opening in said flanges, and a metal reinforcing member having tabs therein embedded in each said flange and having an opening therein for reinforcing the periphery of the opening in said tab.

13. The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein said means for mounting said ring on said vehicle comprises diametrically opposed openings in the axial wall into which retaining means on the vehicle are adapted to expand.

14. The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein said axial Wall comprises an annular metal member, and a plurality of axially extending metal retaining members having one end thereof extending radially and embedded in said second wall and the other end thereof fixedly secured to said annular metal member.

15. The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein said axially extending wall comprises an annular sheet metal wall, said wall having its peripheral edge thereof curved radially inwardly adjacent said second wall to engage said headlight, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers, said fingers being fixedly secured to the periphery of said axial wall, said second wall having an integral axially extending wall having grooves therein along which said fingers extend and openings therein into which the ends of said retaining fingers extend.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,751,070 3/1930 Boots et al. 2408.3 1,847,134 3/1932 Nikonow 240-8.3 2,798,147 7/1957 Orsatti 2408.3 2,826,682 3/1958 Falge 24041.5

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner. RICHARD M. SHEER, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

